3D Modeling and Performance Optimization of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

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Kelso Energy Limited manufactures vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT). The company aims at reducing the effects of greenhouse emission by designing and manufacturing cost-effective and durable wind turbines that meet the electricity demands of cellphone towers, isolated communities and research centres, agricultural farms, cottages, ranches, and many other unique applications. Kelso Energy has been operating in the Prairie region of Canada for three years and is currently building capacity for meeting the demands of a larger customer base in Canada and abroad. Kelso Energy is redesigning and developing 3D models of their 5kW VAWT. This effort will help the company to overcome significant fabrication problems including inconsistent product quality, longer fabrication times and laborious design modifications due to lack of standardized design blueprint. In addition to initial design challenges, operational efficiency of the VAWT requires performance optimization which becomes difficult to achieve by field testing and trial-by-error approaches. For wind turbines, design and performance optimization becomes a fluid flow problem, which is usually difficult to replicate using small scale prototypes in laboratory environments. Therefore Kelso Energy is partnering with Red River College's Technology Access Centre for Aerospace and Manufacturing (TACAM) team on the 3D modeling and to analyze and study various materials-design-fluid flow parameters for performance optimization of the VAWT using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). RRC's TACAM team will capitalize on the College's existing capabilities and expertise in CFD, process simulation and 3D CAD modeling to deliver this project. The major parameters of CFD study will include the wind flow, blade angles and structure, rotor dimensions, airfoil configuration, and others, with the aim of producing optimum design parameters that will lower production cost and increase product efficiency. Kelso Energy represents one of the progressive emerging Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Manitoba with high-priority commitment to research and development activities. The company has the capacity to implement and further advance the results of this project. The College team is looking forward to gaining additional knowledge (for students/interns on the project, research personnel and faculty) that will be useful in future research engagements.